Pam Maher

Pam Maher

by Terry Eselun

 

Pam Maher, founding member and treasurer of W.I.S.A  in 1975, grew up in Long Beach, but as a military brat, her family moved around a great deal. After graduation from Pasadena High School, she returned to Seal Beach and was bit by the surfing bug in the 60’s. You could find her riding waves from Sunset Beach to Big Dana every weekend, rain or shine.

She met and fell in love with Vinny in 1963 and the two were married in 1964 in Laguna Beach while Vinny was stationed at El Toro Marine Base. Pam became a nurse at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. They had three children: Dale, Mike and Kelly. After traveling with the military, Pam and her family set down roots in Belmont Shore and became close friends with the surfing Poppler family who lived on the Peninsula. Jericho asked Pam to become the first treasurer of the W.I.S.A board and Pam happily accepted.

Pam was a tremendous asset to the Board, in addition to helping behind the scenes running the contests. It didn’t hurt that Pam was also a fantastic cook and she often brought food to those often long WISA meetings.

When Pam hung up her surfboard in the early 80’s, she picked up a set of golf clubs with the same passion and became an excellent golfer, often compared with the steady, long-driving golf pro Nancy Lopez.

Unfortunately, Pam Maher, died suddenly from a heart attack in 2004, way too soon for those who admired and loved her. Pam will be remembered for her many contributions to the sport of surfing, but mostly for her warm and loving heart.

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